The World Tourism Sector Is Predicted To Recover Completely This Year

JAKARTA - The slump in the world tourism sector during the pandemic is still a concern for the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

Recently, on Friday, January 19, WTO estimated that the international tourism industry is expected to return to pre-pandemic conditions this year, following the revival of the industry throughout 2023.

"After delayed demand, increased air transportation and market recovery as well as stronger tourist destinations in Asia, these conditions are expected to support full recovery by the end of 2024," the UN agency said, reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 20.

Throughout 2023, the international tourism market reached 88 percent of pre-pandemic conditions with 1.3 billion tourist visits.

The Middle East led the recovery and emerged as the only region that surpassed pre-pandemic arrivals with a arrival rate of 22 percent higher than 2019.

Meanwhile, Europe, the region most visited in the world, reached 94 percent of pre-pandemic levels, thanks to intra-regional demand and travel from America.

Africa and America managed to achieve recovery with 96 percent of visitors before the pandemic, while Asia and the Pacific hit 65 percent of visitor levels in 2019 after the reopening of several markets and tourist destinations.

Total revenue from the tourism sector, including passenger transportation, is estimated at US$1.6 trillion in 2023, nearly 95 percent of the US$1.7 trillion in 2019, according to the agency.

Initial estimates show that the contribution of the tourism economy is US$3.3 trillion in 2023, or 3 percent of global gross domestic product.